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Friday, September 09, 2005

Universal may have pushed the release date of "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition back by as much as one month. HMC.uk.co has a release date of 10-10-05 while amazon.uk.co has 09-19-05. In the US, CD Universe and Amazon.com are still showing 09-13-05. The reasons for the delay, if true, are most likely due to the recreation of the orginal artwork that came with the album when it was released in 1975.

UPDATE 9/12: EltonJohn.com is still reporting that the US release for the 30th Anniversary "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" Deluxe Edition is September 13th in the US. Here are the release dates I have been able to find;

US: 9-13-05UK: 10-10-05 from HMV.co.uk and WhatRecords.comUK: 09-19-05 from Amazon.co.uk

UPDATE2: Jim McKay of the 22nd-row picked up a copy of the CFDE on Saturday and is loving it. So there is no delay in the US.

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Elton, Fats among perfomers at Katrina benefitBy Jonathan CohenNEW YORK (Billboard) - Big names such as Elton John and Rod Stewart will team up with some of New Orleans' most notable musicians, including recently rescued veterans Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint, during a September 20 benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina at Madison Square Garden.The concert, dubbed "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy," will also feature Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Nicks, Lenny Kravitz, Bette Midler, John Fogerty, Loggins & Mussina and Earth, Wind & Fire. New Orleans will additionally be represented by the Neville Brothers, the Original Meters and the Dirty Dozen and Rebirth Brass Bands.In addition to underwriting the show, Madison Square Garden will donate $1 million to Katrina-related fundraising efforts. All proceeds from the event will benefit like-minded causes. Tickets go on sale September 13.Reuters/Billboard

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Elton performed a free concert before a crowd of 200,000 people in Rome on Saturday night 9/3.

Associated Press

ROME — Elton John played the piano and delighted hundreds of thousands of fans with old hits such as "Daniel" at a concert outside the Colosseum on Saturday night.

People of all ages clapped and danced at the free concert on the Via dei Fori Imperiali, the large boulevard that leads to the Colosseum and is lined with ancient Roman relics.

Fans included families with babies, and security officials estimated the crowd at 200,000. Some had been there since dawn to grab good spots.

"We like him very much, he's a great one, there's nothing else to say," said Sara Stanghetti, 18, who came with four friends.

Francesca Savina, 23, who said she started listening to John because her parents did, left home at early in the afternoon to make sure she could get a good view of the singer.

Some took a more modest view of the event. "I would not have paid a lot of money to see Elton John," said Daniele Casale, 29.

John performed in Italy for the first time in 1973, according to a release from the Rome municipality.

"I love places that have an incredible history," John said in taped remarks that were released to news organizations before the concert. "I love the Italian way of life, I love the food, I love the people, I love the attitudes of Italians."

Last year, a Simon and Garfunkel concert on the same stage drew hundreds of thousands of fans. In 2003, Paul McCartney also performed on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

The setlist courtesy Elton's Dark Diamond;

Pinball WizardBennie and the JetsDanielTurn the Lights Out When You LeaveTake Me To The PilotRocket ManI Guess That's Why They Call It The BluesSacrificeCandle In The Wind (solo)Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest WordFuneral For a Friend/Love Lies BleedingAre You Ready For LovePhiladelphia FreedomThey Call Her The CatSad Songs (Say So Much)Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeI'm Still StandingThe Bitch is BackSaturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)Crocodile RockYour Song

In an article on the alleged music news site Contact Music, some group called Hard-Fi has criticised Elton for his recent duet's with 2Pac and Pete Doherty. Someone should explain to these good people that if any one is to blame for "Ghetto Gospel" it is Eminem who sampled Elton's 1971 song "Indian Sunset" and that Elton had little, if anything, to do with it. And as for the Pete Doherty duet at Live 8, well the performance speaks for itself.

Sunday, September 04, 2005

"Captain Fantastic and The Kid" Elton and Bernie are writing a sequel to "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy" called "Captain Fantastic and the Kid" which will pick up where "Captain Fantastic" left off. It will be released on March 20, 2007, five days before Elton's 60th birthday. Recording starts this January.

"Elton's Christmas Party"A collection of Elton's favorite Christmas music by other artists, plus a new duet with Elton and Joss Stone available only at Starbucks. This is due in two months on November 8.

Broadway production of "Billy Elliott" is due in 2006

Lestat debuts in December in San Francisco and on Broadway in Spring.

Elton has written nine songs with Scissors Sisters marking the first time he has written songs in the same room with his collaborator.